Austrian Wine-Growing Regions – a Quick Summary

There are 4 major wine-growing regions in Austria:

1. Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)
2. Burgenland
3. Steiermark (Styria)
4. Wien (Vienna)

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Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)

• Austria’s largest Qualitatswein wine growing region.
• multiple wine styles produced from domestic grapes as well as international varieties.
• can be divided into 3 rough climate zones: Weinviertel in the north, the Danube and tributaries to the west of Vienna, and Niederösterreich in the south-east.
• 49% is planted to Grüner Veltliner.
• There are 8 Qualitätswein wine-growing regions:
  • Weinviertel – Principal grape: Grüner Veltliner.
    • range of styles produced here are refreshing whites, fruity reds, and a selection of sweet wines.
  • Kamptal – Principal grapes: Grüner Veltliner, Riesling.
    • one of the most successful wine regions in Austria.
  • Kremstal – Principal Grapes: Grüner Veltliner, Riesling.
    • the area is known for spicy Grüner Veltliner and elegant, mineral-driven Rieslings – can be produced in fresh style and also as rich Reserve wines.
  • Wachau – Principal Grapes: Grüner Veltliner, Riesling.
    • the best vineyards here produce some of the world’s finest white wines, especially when made using Grüner Veltliner or Riesling.
    • has been declared a World Cultural Heritage site.
    • Wachau has opted out of the DAC system and instead uses terms Steinfeder (light, fresh, fruity and tangy with max 11.5% ABV), Federspiel (middleweight and elegant with 11.5% – 12.5% ABV) and Smaragd (richest and fullest-bodied with over 12.5% ABV).
  • Wagram – Principal Grapes: Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Roter Veltliner.
    • rich, broad and spicy grüner veltliner with a characteristically creamy texture.
    • for in depth information on the region, read John Szabo’s article and Michael Godel’s article
  • Traisental – Principal Grapes: Grüner Veltliner, Riesling.
    • Austria’s newest region.
    • Grüner veltliner dominates in the Traisental more than in any other region in Austria, accounting for some 60 percent of acreage.
    • for a deeper dive into this region, read John Szabo’s article and Michael Godel’s article
  • Carnuntum – Principal grapes: Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, Weissburgunder, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner.
  • Thermenregion – Principal Grapes: Zierfandler, Rotgipfler, Weissburgunder, Chardonnay, Sankt Laurent, Pinot Noir.
    • the north of the region is known for white wines and in the south red wine predominates.

Burgenland

• One of Austria’s most important regions for red wine – together Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt make up 41% of vineyard area.
• also produces complex whites and fine sweet wines.
• there are 4 Qualitätswein wine-growing regions:
  • Eisenberg – Principal Grape: Blaufränksich.
    • Blaufränkisch with the protected designation of origin Eisenberg DAC are characterized by a particular mineral spiciness.
  • Leithaberg – Principal Grapes: Blaufränksich, Weissburgunder, Chardonnay
    • Leithaberg DAC wines can be red or white and always display the minerally, dynamic tension and vibrancy typical of this region.
  • Mittelburgenland – Principal Grape: Blaufränksich.
    • also known as Blaufränkischland due it being Austria’s key wine-growing region for this variety.
    • fruity, spicy, powerful wines – can be aged in large oak casks, used barriques or stainless steel tank.
  • Neusiedlersee – Principal Grapes: Welschriesling (sweet), Zweigelt.
    • synonymous with fruity, harmonious Zweigelt wines – can also be made in Reserve style.

Steiermark (Styria)

• Fresh, brilliant, and elegant wines.
• most widely planted grape is Sauvignon Blanc followed closely by Welschriesling.
• Red grapes are Blauer Wildbacher and Zweigelt.
• Vulkanland – Principal Grapes: Welschriesling, Weissburgunder, Sauvignon Blanc and Traminer.
  • vineyards stretch up the sides of extinct volcanoes, giving the landscape a truly unique character.
  • Sauvignon Blanc is the flagship variety when it comes tos Ortswein (“villages” wine), although Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are also very important.
  • interesting red wines, primarily produced from Zweigelt.
• Südsteiermark – Principal Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Muskateller, Weissburgunder, Chardonnay (known as Morillon).
  • best known for fresh, fragrant wines, especially those produced using Sauvignon Blanc, the region’s flagship variety.
• Weststeiermark – Principal Grapes: Blauer Wildbacker, Sauvignon Blanc, Weissburgunder.
  • Schilcher rosé – zesty and acidic rosé that is the star of the region – vinified from Blauer Wildbacker – the predominant local variety.
  • also known for polished whites from numerous grape varieties.

Wien (Vienna)

• Vineyards in the city – play a key role in the local economy and help preserve the green belt that surrounds the city.
• Viennese state law stipulates that all existing vineyards must continue to be cultivated as such, thereby protecting valuable viticultural land from real estate speculation.
• Gemischter Satz (a field blend of white grapes) is considered the most regionally typical wine of the Wien region – to be Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC, at least three white Qualitätswein grape varieties must be interplanted together in a vineyard within Wien – the greatest proportion must not exceed 50% and the third largest proportion must exceed 10% – 39% of vineyard area is planted for Gemischter Satz.

Links to Austrian wines:

Note: these wines may be VINTAGES releases, General List, Online, or at the Central Europe Destination Store (Dundas & Mavis in Mississauga).

Note: these wines are available for purchase by the case from the agent.

This feature was commissioned by Austrian Wine Marketing Board. As a regular feature, WineAlign tastes wines submitted by a single winery, agent or region. Our writers independently, as always, taste, review and rate the wines — good, bad and indifferent, and those reviews are posted on WineAlign. We then independently recommend wines to appear in the article. Wineries, wine agents, or regions pay for this service. Ads for some wines may appear at the same time, but the decision on which wines to put forward in our report, and its content, is entirely up to WineAlign.